Following the announcement by Denmark's Queen Margrethe II of her plans to relinquish the throne, here's a look at other memorable abdications over the past century.
The British public was stunned when their king of less than a year, Edward VIII, made the shockng announcement on December 12, 1936, that he would abdicate in order to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson. His younger brother Albert, father of the late Queen Elizabeth II, succeeded him under the name of George VI.
Cambodia's revered late king Norodom Sihanouk, who held his country together through six turbulent decades in various guises, abdicated twice. He was appointed to the throne in 1941 by the collaborationist Vichy regime of colonial power France but stepped back in 1955 after independence in favour of his father. The self-confessed "naughty boy" abdicated again on October 7, 2004 after being treated for cancer, and was succeeded by his son, King Norodom Sihamoni.
Pope Benedict XVI, leader of the world's Catholics as well as sovereign of Vatican City, was the first pope to resign in nearly 600 years when he stepped down in 2013 due to ill health.
The reputation of Spain's monarchy took a battering under former King Juan Carlos I, who abdicated on June 18, 2014, after being plagued by controversy over personal wealth and his love life. He abdicated in favour of his son Felipe and later moved to the United Arab Emirates.
On April 30, 2019, Japan's much-loved Emperor Akihito gave up his throne at the age of 85 after nearly three decades in the job. Akihito, who helped restore Japan's standing in the world after its defeat in World War II, said he felt unable to continue in the job because of his failing health. His son Emperor Naruhito ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne in 2019.
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